WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1728/97 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. Asymmetrical impact on the Nordic welfare model of EMU criteria uniformly applicable to Member States
Date: 1997-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, SEPPAENEN
Subjects: EU Member State, Economic and Monetary Union, Welfare State, economic structure, gender equality, labour market, public expenditure, social security, social structure

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/39

On a proposal from the Commission, discussions have started with the Member States about the withdrawal of
the  export  refund  from  exporters  who  have  not  fully  respected  the  rules  on  the  welfare  of  animals  during
transport.  A  new  legal  basis  has  been  proposed  (to  the  basic  regulation  for  beef,  Council  Regulation  (EEC)
No 805/68 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal), stipulating that in the case of exports of
live animals, the payment of the export refund shall be subject to the respect of the animal welfare standards, as
set out in Community legislation.

(1)  From 1995 due to the enlargement of the European Union Austria, Sweden and Finland are included in the statistics.
(2)  New green ECU from 1.2.1995: old amount x 1,207509.
(3)  OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(98/C 60/64)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1728/97

by Esko Seppa¤nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 May 1997)

Subject: Asymmetrical impact on the Nordic welfare model of EMU criteria uniformly applicable to Member

States

The Member States of the Union are not homogeneous: their economic and social structures differ significantly
from one another. Under the Nordic welfare model, social security is guaranteed to all on an individual basis. As
a result, women have been freed from the obligatory caring role and dependence on men as breadwinners which
prevail in societies where women(cid:146)s place is deemed to be in the home.

Public services provide jobs for women and enable them to find employment. Because of women(cid:146)s dependence
on the State, cuts in public expenditure have a direct impact on women(cid:146)s opportunities to make a living. Thus the
EMU criteria, and particularly the constraints on public budgets, affect men and women differently in different
countries depending on how social security is organized there. In view of the above, I would ask:

What will the Commission do to overcome the problem that the EMU criteria applicable to all affect men and
women differently in different countries?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 1997)

Cuts in public expenditure are not an objective of the economic and monetary union (EMU) criteria. If the EC
Treaty insists on limits to public deficits and debt › among other conditions of equal importance › it is to ensure
a policy-mix favourable to growth and employment. Long-run sustainability in public finances is a necessary
condition for financial market stability, low interest rates and private sector confidence, which themselves are
essential prerequisites for investment, growth and job creation.

The EMU criteria are the same for all Member States. They constitute no infringement on the Nordic welfare
model, nor on any other social arrangement remaining under national responsibility. The financial viability of
any social policy programme depends crucially on the underlying strength and income-generating capacity of the
economy.

The EMU criteria do not have an impact on the legal equality of right of men and women. They do not affect the
equal treatment of men and women on the labour market granted by national law.